Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Thomas Smith died as a result of complications from gunshot wounds sustained 25 years earlier during the Glenville Riots.
Patrolman Smith was attempting to rescue three other officers who had been shot. He had pulled two to safety and was trying to rescue the third when he was shot in the spine.
He remained in the hospital for 22 months and remained paralyzed after being released. He continued working for the department in a reduced capacity until retiring in 1987. He was re-admitted to the hospital on February 2, 1993, and died as a result of the complications one month later.
Patrolman Smith was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Cleveland Police Department for 5 years when he was shot.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-18692E4F- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Smith gave the Cleveland Division of Police 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Thomas J. Smith served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Thomas J. Smith is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Cleveland Division of Police, 83 of 119 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas J. Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas J. Smith Compares
Offender Outcome
Leader died in prison in 1978
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas J. Smith is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas J. Smith was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
118 officers from Cleveland Division of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
